The South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL) has said contrary to reports it is not considering introducing e-tolling in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, but is looking at an alternative method of payment for the region.
HumanIPO reported last week minister of transport Dipuo Peters had denied claims e-tolls were going to be imposed in the province, saying any changes to the current system would first need to undergo a consultative process.
“We reiterate what the minister has said. There are no plans to introduce new tolls in KZN or e-tolling as it exists in Gauteng. In Gauteng, we upgraded the road network and since it is a multi-lane free flow tolling system, gantries were erected to record the passage of vehicles and the transactions. This is not what is proposed for KZN. Critically, road users will have the choice between using manual lanes or e-tag lanes,” said SANRAL chief executive officer (CEO) Nazir Alli.
He said the installation of the e-tolling technology is still in its planning and consultative phase and the introduction of the system would only happen once the process had been completed.
Alli said the introduction of the system would not result in price increases for road usage in the province.
“The introduction of the electronic collection when it does happen will not result in an increase in the toll tariff. This will be an additional method of payment available to motorist to choose from, whose timing has not yet been finalised,” he said.
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